Freeing Our Minds: The Teachings of Lojong
Eight classes on Zoom, which will be recorded in HD software and available at your convenience
Tuesdays, 6pm - 8pm Mountain Time / 7pm - 9pm Central Time
September 30, October 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, November 4th, 11th, 18th
Questions Live in Class, or by email at your own time
Our nature is open and free, wise, connected and loving. Yet in the melee of modern life, we become ensnared in the stresses of getting by in an increasingly destabilized world, atmospheric aggression and angst, the limitations of habitual patterns—-and our hearts close. It’s easy to become anxious and depressed. We do not have to live like that: We can free our minds.
We can always come home to open resilience, and use every single event in life to increase our wisdom, compassion, and strength. This what the teachings of mind-transformation, or lojong, are all about. They take the form of one line slogans that are easy to bring to mind throughout the day, draw upon when we need, and gradually orient our lives around our paths of awakening.
The Lojong teachings encapsulate the entire Mahayana in fifty-nine pith instructions including meditation, contemplation, on the spot methods, and even how to practice with death and grief.
In this course we’ll learn:
Guided meditations with recordings to use at home
To cultivate our awakened heart, or bodhichitta, a limitless spiritual resource
To free our minds through vipashyana (insight) meditation
Tools to heal and transform anxiety, despair, and difficult emotions
Contemplative meditations for perspective and wisdom
Pragmatic on the spot tools to bring practice into daily life
Pithy instructions for practicing with death and grief
Strategies to keep an attainable and inspiring daily practice in constrained time
The classic Lojong text, and accessible commentaries including Pema Chodron’s
Support from community, if we so choose, organized through a private discussion forum
Registration and Payment
Register by filling out your name and email below, and by offering the tuition via Venmo or PayPal as described. I’ll then email you to confirm (give it a day or two), and will provide the Zoom link for the classes. The classes will be recorded as they occur, and the recordings made available in the days following each live class for those watching at your own time.
Payment
The sustainable tuition for this course is $200.
If that presents an obstacle, please just offer whatever amount works for you:) If you’d like to offer more than the sustainable tuition as a patron, that’s also appreciated.
My Venmo and PayPal are under my given name, Travis Dierolf
Venmo:
@Travis-Dierolf
(970) 573-2383
loden1@protonmail.com
PayPal:
@TravisDierolf
(970) 573-2383
loden1@protonmail.com
Students are Saying:
“Loden is a highly-trained, experienced and gifted teacher. He makes ancient teachings accessible through his down-to-earth and compassionate way of communicating. He combines enthusiasm and deep knowledge to make learning and practicing enjoyable.” - Claire
“Both experienced and newer practitioners will appreciate Loden Nyima's teachings, which are deeply rooted in classic Buddhist texts yet are presented in a manner that is understandable by Westerners.” - Kipp C
“Solid Online Buddhist Study Experience
I recently completed one of Loden's eight-week online courses and wanted to share my experience for anyone considering his teachings.
**What I appreciated:**
**Experienced Teacher**: Loden brings over 15 years of monastic experience and formal Buddhist training. His time at Gampo Abbey and Drala Mountain Center really shows in the depth and authenticity of his instruction.
**Practical Format**: The Zoom classes work well - recorded in HD so you can revisit content or catch up if you miss a session. The recordings are helpful for reviewing meditation instructions and key concepts.
**Accessible Approach**: Complex Buddhist teachings are presented in a way that's understandable for modern practitioners. Loden has a gift for making ancient wisdom relevant to contemporary challenges.
**Reasonable Pricing**: The sliding scale tuition ($200 suggested, pay what you can) makes quality dharma instruction accessible. This isn't about profit - it's about sharing the teachings.
**Supportive Community**: The private discussion forum creates connection with fellow students, which adds value to the solo online learning experience.
**Areas that worked for me:**
- Clear meditation instruction with guided practices
- Practical tools for working with difficult emotions
- Integration of study with contemplative practice
- Emphasis on daily practice that fits real life
The courses provide a good foundation in Buddhist meditation and philosophy. Loden creates a welcoming environment for both beginners and those with experience. If you're looking for authentic dharma instruction in a convenient online format, these courses deliver solid value.
Worth checking out if you're drawn to serious Buddhist study with a qualified teacher.” - JS
Previous Courses
We’ve recently completed four other eight week courses. The recordings are available below for those who registered (via the passwords you received). In the future, these will be slightly edited into self-paced courses. Everyone is welcome to the upcoming course Freeing Our Minds: The Lojong Teachings, you do not need to have taken these previous courses:) New people have been joining every course, and they’re crafted to be accessible so please come right in!
